School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (SATM)

Permanent URI for this community

https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/8736

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 82

Open Access
A3 thinking approach to enhance a complaints handling process in the airline sector
(Cranfield University, 2019-07) Alshahrani, Bader Mohammed; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; McLaughlin, Patrick
A prescription for the business success is a matter of concern for company management, researchers and policy makers. There is an ongoing debate regarding the key tools which can increase business efficiency. For example, one stream of research argued that focusing on short-term goals is enough to boost up business performance. On the other hand, another stream argued that companies should focus on long-term performance by emphasising the importance of continuous improvement to assure the delivery of business sustainability. From this point of view, researchers proposed that problem solving is the key for achieving continuous improvement. Problem solving approaches are essential for maintaining the customer service quality as high as possible given the fact that they (problem solving approaches) focus on preventing the reoccurrence of complaints from customers. However, researcher did not reach a consensus regarding the effectiveness of the ‘traditional’ approaches of problem solving (e.g. the 5 whys). As a result, this study develops an A3 Thinking approach for problem-solving in order to enhance the complaints handling process in the airline sector. This approach is validated by using case studies of Saudi Airlines. One of the main advantages of developing such an approach is that it enables the capture of subsequent provision of useful knowledge gained from each complaint, thus enabling the prevention of the reoccurrence of problems, and supporting decision- making. This study provided a valid evidence on the importance of handling customer complaints in different touchpoints during customer journey (pre-flight, on board and post-flight phases). This study found that breaking down customer journey to touchpoints help company management prevent the reoccurrence of customer complaints by increasing the efficiency of responding to customer complaints. The research contributes to the literature by providing a detailed explanation of the journey encountered by airline customers, and it contributes towards enhanced practitioner outcomes by developing a customised A3 Thinking approach for problem-solving in the airline sector based on a learning cycle.
Open Access
Adoption of product service systems in health care.
(2017-10) Mittermeyer, Stephan Alexander; Tomiyama, Tetsuo; Tiwari, Ashutosh
Health care systems are constantly challenged to deliver better quality of care at lower cost. Product Services Systems (PSS) aim to output a higher value to a customer, while reducing resource input required to achieve such value and sustainability. In the health care market this could help companies increase their focus on value for the patient, but also for the health care system as such. This focus on value can ultimately help drive down health care cost, which is one of the most pressing issues in health care systems today. The potential of PSS to address some of the major challenges in the health care market was recognised early in PSS research, however adoption in this field is still below expectation. Motivated by the potential of PSS in health care this work aims to explore the current status of adoption as well as drivers and barriers to future adoption in this market and evaluates if and how PSS can be designed and implemented by companies active in this market. This work showed that PSS can be feasible and useful in this sector as they address relevant current challenges. Future changes in the health care market will likely make PSS even more relevant. Certain concepts of PSS are already applied in the market without leveraging the benefits of a fully developed PSS. Limitations in how the value for patients and other market actors is determined and made transparent is a major challenge in the adoption of PSS. An assessment method is proposed to enable companies to evaluate the value generation of their PSS offerings. In addition, a guideline for PSS design is proposed based on results of this work and field observations. This thesis contributes to a better understanding of PSS adoption in health care by investigating mechanisms in the health care market to understand if PSS can be implemented in a useful manner and how PSS can be adopted in health care in the future. As PSS consists of a number of separate concepts that may be used by themselves and also outside a PSS concept, a detailed analysis was performed to evaluate how PSS concepts are already utilized by industry, as such partial implementations may be a good starting point for full PSS adoption. Adoption of a PSS in any industry requires a measure to evaluate the success of a system implementation or the quality of PSS offerings. Given the complex market network in health care, metrics for evaluations have been identified, linking different dimensions of clinical utility to PSS. Those metrics enable companies to assess PSS systems or scenarios, but also enable development teams to focus their PSS design efforts, as those assessment metrics provide a framework for PSS requirements engineering in this market. Based on the results of the work outlined above, design guidelines were defined to support the development process of PSS in health care.
Open Access
Advanced uncertainty quantification with dynamic prediction techniques under limited data for industrial maintenance applications.
(Cranfield University, 2021-07) Grenyer, Alex; Erkoyuncu, John Ahmet; Zhao, Yifan
Engineering systems are expected to function effectively whilst maintaining reliability in service. These systems consist of various equipment units, many of which are maintained on a corrective or time-based basis. Challenges to plan maintenance accounting for turnaround times, equipment availability and resulting costs manifest varying degrees of uncertainty stemming from multiple quantitative and qualitative (compound) sources throughout the in-service life. Under or over-estimating this uncertainty can lead to increased failure rates or, more often, unnecessary maintenance being carried out. As well as the quality availability of data, uncertainty is driven by the influence of expert experience or assumptions and environmental operating conditions. Accommodating for uncertainty requires the determination of key contributors, their influence on interconnected units and how this might change over time. This research aims to develop a modelling approach to quantify, aggregate and forecast uncertainty given by a combination of historic equipment data and heuristic estimates for in-service engineering systems. Research gaps and challenges are identified through a systematic literature review and supported by a series of surveys and interviews with industrial practitioners. These are addressed by the development of two frameworks: (1) quantify and aggregate compound uncertainty, and (2) predict uncertainty under limited data. The two frameworks are brought together to produce the Multistep Compound Dynamic Uncertainty Quantification (MCDUQ) app, developed in MATLAB. Results demonstrate effective measurement of compound uncertainties and their impact on system reliability, along with robust predictions under limited data with an immersive visualisation of dynamic uncertainty. The embedded frameworks are each validated through implementation in two case studies. The app is verified with industrial experts through a series of interviews and virtual demonstrations.
Open Access
Alignment measurements uncertainties for large assemblies using probabilistic analysis techniques.
(2017-12) Doytchinov, Iordan; Tonnellier, Xavier P.; Almond, Heather
Big science and ambitious industrial projects continually push forward with technical requirements beyond the grasp of conventional engineering techniques. Example of those are ultra-high precision requirements in the field of celestial telescopes, particle accelerators and aerospace industry. Such extreme requirements are limited largely by the capability of the metrology used, namely, it’s uncertainty in relation to the alignment tolerance required. The current work was initiated as part of Maria Curie European research project held at CERN, Geneva aiming to answer those challenges as related to future accelerators requiring alignment of 2 m large assemblies to tolerances in the 10 µm range. The thesis has found several gaps in current knowledge limiting such capability. Among those was the lack of application of state of the art uncertainty propagation methods in alignment measurements metrology. Another major limiting factor found was the lack of uncertainty statements in the thermal errors compensations applied to assembly’s alignment metrology. A novel methodology was developed by which mixture of probabilistic modelling and high precision traceable reference measurements were used to quantify both measurement and thermal models compensation uncertainty accurately. Results have shown that the suggested methodology can accurately predict CMM specific measurement uncertainty as well as thermal drift compensation made by empirical, FEM and FEM metamodels. The CMM task-specific measurement uncertainties made at metrology laboratory were validated to be of maximum 7.96 µm (1σ) for the largest 2 m assemblies. The analysis of the results further showed how using this method a ‘virtual twins’ of the engineering structures can be calibrated with the known uncertainty of thermal drift prediction behaviour in the micrometric range. Namely, the Empirical, FEM and FEM Metamodels uncertainties of predictions were validated to be of maximum: 8.7 µm (1σ), 11.28 µm (1σ) and 12.24 µm (1σ).
Open Access
Areal artefact manufacturing using SPDT
(2018-08) Zhao, Junguo; Giusca, Claudiu; Goel, Saurav
With the increasing importance of the surface engineering, surface topography measuring instrument has been used in wider range of applications, which requires trustworthy calibration process to deliver traceability so that the instrument is able to give comparable and reliable measurement. The calibration standard / artefact is designed to transfer traceability easily and reliably. In current market, the feature of the artefact used for evaluation the surface topography measuring process are not sufficiently accurate. This insufficiency may be solved by using certain types of calibration standard specified in ISO standard however they are not commercially produced. In this project, one of the desired types called ‘radial sinusoidal shape’ was produce by SPDT (single point diamond turning) manufacturing method. The feature parameters of the artefact are designed to meet the instrument measurement requirement and the machining path is generated with consideration of the tooling geometry. To assess the repeatability in z direction of the turning machine, a step height experiment was designed and conducted. The measurement result indicates that the repeatability of the machine is unsatisfactory when the feed distance smaller than 100 nm. The wavelength and the amplitude of machined radial sinusoidal shape was measured by stylus profiler, followed by the measurement uncertainty analysis. The measurement result was compared with the design to evaluate quality of the manufacturing process. To estimate the systematic error of the profiler, CCI was used to measure the machined radial sinusoidal shape. The measurement result was also compared with the design.
Open Access
Authoring digital contents for augmented reality in maintenance.
(2018-04) Palmarini, Riccardo; Erkoyuncu, John Ahmet; Roy, Rajkumar
Technicians’ performance is a major driver in maintenance and each process can be prone to time and quality variances as well as errors due to factors such as experience, complexity and environment. Augmented Reality (AR) is an emerging technology that has been applied in a wide variety of disciplines and has been demonstrated to have a role with improving efficiency, effectiveness and decision-making within industrial maintenance. AR has not reached its full potential yet and its implementation in Industry is slowed down by three main limitations: hardware restricted capabilities, object recognition robustness and contents-related issues. This PhD project focuses on easing the implementation of AR by overcoming the AR technology selection challenges and the AR contents-related issues. In order to reach the aim, the student has provided three main contributions to knowledge: 1) a process to select AR technology for maintenance (IPSAR), 2) a method for creating AR step-by-step procedures (FARP) and 3) a method for providing remote assistance (ARRA). FARP and ARRA methods have been developed and tested. The first allows recording procedures in an ad-hoc designed “AR-format” and is able to show “step-by-step” procedures. It aims to support deskilling the maintenance process and reducing the error rate by simplifying the delivery of maintenance with efficient and effective guidance. The second overcomes current remote video-call assistance limitations by improving spatial referencing. ARRA module allows to provide AR-assistance by overlaying virtual objects on the real environment of a remote maintainer. The methods proposed by the student could boost the implementation of AR and open the doors for a bright future in which AR supports technicians thus reducing operational costs and training and improving human performances.
Open Access
Bead shape control using multi-energy source (mes) for wire-based directed energy deposition (ded) process.
(Cranfield University, 2021-11) Chen, Guangyu; Ding, Jialuo; Williams, Stewart W.
Independent control of layer width and height is essential to achieve a simultaneous high build rate with precision net shape and thermal control independent from deposition shape in the wire-based directed energy deposition (w-DED) process. Bead shape control using a multi-energy source (MES) method was studied to achieve independent control of layer width height of a bead for the w-DED process. This study was carried out in three stages: First, a plasma transfer arc (PTA) energy density measurement was conducted. A split anode calorimeter (SAC) was applied for the measurement of PTA energy density. A laser beam with a well-defined energy profile was used to calibrate the calorimeter without the complications of arc instability. An optimised centred grounded SAC device was introduced to reduce arc distortion. More symmetric arc profiles were obtained. The dynamic thermal characterisation of a scanning laser (SL) was then studied using both experimental and numerical approaches. SL experiments were conducted with different oscillation frequencies and laser beam sizes. An innovative solution dependent convection boundary (SDCB) method was introduced to reduce the element amount of the finite element (FE) model. Results show that the quasi-steady state SL can be applied as an equivalent stationary energy source. Finally, an SL-PTA MES system was introduced to study the MES bead shape control, a PTA was employed in the front to create an initial melt pool and melt the feedstock wire, and an SL was used behind the PTA to reshape the melt pool and precisely control the bead width. A bead shape control strategy was proposed by using the wire feeding rate to control the layer height and the scanning width to control the layer width. The experiment results verified that the SL-PTA MES has independent control of layer width and height.
Open Access
Biomimetic polymer reactor: design and modulation of novel tandem catalysts.
(Cranfield University, 2021-09) Wei, Wenjing; Chianella, Iva; Thakur, Vijay Kumar; Koziol, Krzysztof
Tandem catalysis can perform multi-step catalytic reactions in one-pot sequentially, which not only improves the efficiency of reactions significantly, but also decreases time, energy and the amounts of reagents needed. However, as there is always more than one active site (catalyst) in tandem reactors, it is critical to separate different sites and ensure each step is conducted individually. Moreover, it is often challenging to control the whole reaction processes due to the complexity of the systems. In this research, several bio-inspired catalytic reactors were proposed and developed to address the two challenges of site separation and smart control of tandem catalysis. First of all, the goal of sites separation has been achieved in this work through an enzyme-inspired molecularly imprinted polymer reactor MIP-Au-NP-BNPC and a core-shell structure catalytic nanoreactor AMPS@AM-Ag. Two molecularly imprinted cavities were created in MIP-Au-NP-BNPC. The different channels of the two catalytic sites in the reactor enabled different catalytic reactions to occur in different regions, resulting in the process of tandem reactions. As a result of the radial distribution of catalytic sites and mass transfer, the core-shell structure of AMPS@AM-Ag enabled the nanoreactor to perform different catalytic processes sequentially. Hence, the nanoreactor demonstrated the ability to conduct tandem catalysis with successful site separation. Then a biomimetic switch was introduced into the reactor to achieve the smart control of the catalytic process. Firstly, a new type of catalytic reactor consisting of a three-layer mussel-inspired polymer, MIP-AgPRS, was developed. The smart switchable layer composed of mussel-inspired self-healing copolymer was prepared between two MIP layers. This middle smart layer was able to react to different temperatures, permitting either simple or tandem reactions by closing and opening the access of the intermediate products. Secondly, a bilayer polymer reactor, DPR, composed of two different temperature-sensitive polymer layers was prepared. The two functional layers were not only able to respond to different specific temperatures, but each also contained different catalytic sites. Because of the two different phase transition processes of the two layers, the polymer reactor demonstrated to be able to perform simple/tandem catalysis in different temperature regions. As a result, this new type of bilayer polymer reactor was capable of achieving smart control of the tandem reactions. Finally, a three-layer switchable polymer reactor, PRS, with two MIP layers and a PNIPAM-PAM switchable layer in the middle was prepared. In an aqueous environment, when the temperature was low (lower than 47 °C), it exhibited an open access (hydrophilic condition), while when the temperature was high (higher than 47 °C), it became closed (hydrophobic condition). Furthermore, a comonomer (AM) was introduced in the middle layer with different ratios to adjust the responsive temperature range, enabling a more comprehensive range of practical uses. Therefore, a fast responsive and stable polymer reactor with self- controlled catalytic property was obtained. By preparing different types of new catalytic reactors, the research carried out here has shown the ability to achieve a smart control of the tandem catalysis while separating the catalytic sites effectively. Therefore, this study has highlighted new solutions to address the challenges present in tandem catalysis and has provided novel inspiration on how to exploit functional polymers while performing complicated catalytic reactions.
Open Access
Broad band anti-reflection 2-16μm coatings on diamond and ZnSe.
(2018-08) Hakim Khalili, Mohammad; Endrino Armenteros, Jose
In this project, Thin Metal Films an optical coating company is requiring the upgrade of a desktop research type radio frequency magnetron sputtering machine which was custom made for a European funded project and was gifted to it after the project completion. As the machine had no usage history, it had to be investigated and its capabilities and characteristics identified. The first part of the project, focused on restoring the machine using a systematic approach by utilising a technique called Plan Do Check Act, where a continuous feedback loop is used to identify problems and finding solution to them. Within the restoration process the aim was to improve the coating uniformity and machine’s repeatability. The restoration of the machine consumed almost the entire project duration leaving a little time for second part of the project. The second part was to use the restored machine, to develop single and multilayer Broad Band Anti-Reflective Coatings for Zinc Selenide and diamond optics. The optics are to be used in Attenuated Total Reflectance accessory units for Infrared spectroscopy. Based on the literature review and multiple decision criteria, yttria and ytterbia were showing promising results in adhering very well to a diamond surface and improving its transmission. Therefore, using Macleod software, a single layer quarter wavelength coating was designed and theoretically examined. It was found that a quarter wavelength ytteria at 5000 nm and a quarter wavelength ytterbia at 3370 nm can increase the transmission on both ZnSe and diamond optics to maximum of 98% and 95% accordingly. The coatings have not actually been deposited on the optics due to both targets breaking before conducting the actual experiments.
Open Access
Caught in the act: The structural pathway of liquid metals to vitrification monitored in situ by synchrotron X-ray diffraction.
(Cranfield University, 2021-09) Stiehler, Martin E.; Georgarakis, Konstantinos; Jolly, Mark R.
When a metallic melt is undercooled fast enough below its liquidus temperature, crystallisation can be avoided and a metallic glass, i.e. a metallic solid with amorphous structure, be formed. This kind of solidification is called vitrification. The prerequisites for this phenomenon are still not clear. An extensive review of the available relevant literature was carried out. To reveal the structural changes taking place at the atomic scale during undercooling and vitrification, data obtained by ultrafast synchrotron X-ray diffraction during aerodynamic-levitation experiments of different metallic-glass forming liquids was analysed. The complete pathway from temperatures well above the liquidus temperature during undercooling and vitrification down to temperatures well below the glass-transition temperature Tg was studied. During undercooling, a non-linear evolution of structural metrics in real as well as in reciprocal space takes place. Especially the height of the first maximum in the structure factor can be described by a structural analogue to the Curie-Weiss law. This behaviour was also found in published data re-analysed here. Indications of universal behaviour among the investigated alloys below a certain temperature as well as for a liquid-liquid crossover in Ti₄₀Cu₃₄Pd₁₄Zr₁₀Sn₂ were found. Small differences in the temperature dependence of the structural behaviour among the different alloys are possibly related to their different glass-forming abilities. To facilitate the analysis of the real-space structure the novel concept of the anti-shell was introduced. Temperature affects different length scales differently. Below Tg the structural behaviour is dominated by the Debye-Waller factor as well as by normal thermal-expansion behaviour. Above Tg an apparent negative thermal expansion of the first nearest-neighbour distance can be attributed to the influence of the structure-forming processes. In addition to short- and medium-range order, a third structural range for distances beyond the third nearest-neighbour is proposed. A disordering of the atomic structure of metallic glasses by the introduction of further alloying elements, facilitated by emergent effects among the components, could be demonstrated. The importance of the influence of global electronic interactions on structure formation was shown as well as their limitation to distances beyond the third nearest-neighbour.
Open Access
A concentrated solar still for community scale desalination.
(2018-08) Bahrami, Mohammadali (Parsa); Sansom, Christopher L.; Tonnellier, Xavier P.
Water and energy are two main basic elements that human lives are dependent on to improve our life standards. Unreliability and a lack of safe drinking water source constitute a major difficulty in developing countries. Among many water purification technologies, solar desalination/distillation has become one of the best solutions as the most attractive and sustainable method to supply drinkable water in remote areas at reasonable cost for future generations. Seawater desalination technologies needed substantial amount of energy in order to convert brackish water into drinkable water. Thus, an extensive research on many desalination technologies has taken place in the last few decades, and solar desalination technology has become one of the most favourable sustainable methods to provide fresh water of sufficiently high quality for human communities. However, this method is not commercialized yet due to its low productivity, but improving this t has become a great source of interest for many researchers. A solar still consumes direct solar energy to produce distilled water through evaporation and condensation process of brackish water. Much research has been conducted in order to increase the productivity, but the outcomes mostly require complex components and a notable increase in cost. Consequently, developing a productive, compact, easy to operate and reasonable cost solar distillation unit was the main challenge in this body of work. A comprehensive literature review is presented in order to illustrate different modifications and their properties on the productivity of solar stills. Even though there are considerations, which cannot be controlled by human intervention (such as meteorological parameters), design and operational factors could make a direct influence on the productivity of the solar still. A novel transportable single basin, double slope shape solar still, enhanced with an internal ventilation fan connected to a copper material heat exchanger, was designed and built without forsaking its basic remit order to increase both evaporation and condensation process. The unit was also designed to use two linear focused Fresnel lenses as a solar radiation concentrator to direct radiation onto the top of solar still basin area. A detailed comparison of theoretical and laboratory experimental results were obtained for the present solar still to find the influence of different modification factors to the present solar still productivity. The temperatures of different parts of the solar still unit such as basin water, top cover glasses, heat exchanger condenser etc. were measured to evaluate different modifications including different fan airflow ratios, with and without a fan shroud, and lava stone effects to the distillate water output. The results presented an increase in productivity of 25.73% in comparison with a conventional solar still, by using a ventilation exhaust fan at its maximum airflow. Also an increase of 16.3% was also achieved by using lava stone as a heat storage material in the basin area.
Open Access
Corrosion of high strength pipeline steel weldment using submerged jet impingement.
(2019-03) Nofrizal; Impey, Susan A.; Georgarakis, Konstantinos
The aim of this research is to evaluate submerged jet impingement (SJI) as a tool for assessing the effect of flow and the associated corrosion behaviour across an X65 high strength pipeline weldment. The focus is corrosion caused by turbulent artificial sea water at different velocities impinging onto the weldment. An SJI target consisting of 3 rings (centre, inner and outer) based on a previous design [13], was constructed from an X65 pipeline steel weldment. Parent material (PM), heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal (WM) are analysed together in a high shear stress environment and changes in the weldment in a range of hydrodynamic conditions evaluated. Electrochemical measurements were performed with X65 pipeline steel with stagnant and flowing artificial seawater saturated with carbon dioxide at 1 bar at 0 -10 m/s at 25˚C and pH 4. The behaviour with and without an inhibitor was also examined. Galvanic current characteristics between coupled weldment regions were recorded using a zero-resistance ammeter (ZRA), and self-corrosion analysed using linear polarisation resistance (LPR) measurements. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis was undertaken to understand the hydrodynamic effects and velocity changes across the SJI target in flowing conditions. The velocity distribution across the target varied in each weld region where the centre, outer and inner electrodes are 25, 33 and 50% of the impinging jet velocity respectively. The inner electrodes of the SJI target experience 30% of the expected wall shear stress calculated from the impinging jet velocity. Alternative SJI target configurations are proposed to represent a wide range of shear stress and fluid velocities across the target with good precision and accuracy. For low turbulence, the target centre electrode is minimised or placed at the target edge. To achieve maximum turbulence, an electrode 4 mm from the target centre is proposed. To achieve 10 m/s on the suggested target, a jet velocity of just over 15 m/s is required.
Open Access
Decision support method for contracting of non-original equipment manufacturer aero engine maintenance repair and overhaul service providers.
(2017-10) Wibowo, Arie; Tomiyama, Tetsuo; Tjahjono, Benny
Non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (Non-OEM) Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service providers of aero-engines are facing challenges resulting from the rapidly changing MRO market. They need to offer innovative service solutions to airlines through, for example, PSS (Product Service Systems) offerings that combine service(s) and products. PSS can be achieved by either servitisation to add service offerings to products or productisation to add tangible products to service offerings. Currently, however, MRO contracts that include PSS offerings have been prepared based on experiences and intuitions. Ideally, these contracts should be designed to bring about a win-win situation for both airlines (as customers) and MRO service providers. This research aims to develop a new robust, scientific method to prepare contracts for decision makers of non-OEM MRO service providers. The research began with studying current general situation of the PSS in the aero-engine MRO market as well as, in particular, of a Non-OEM MRO service provider. From these, this research first identified sufficient key parameters that describe MRO operations with regard to flight operations of customer airline. A computer-based simulation model was built to assess the capacity and capability of the shop floor operations taking flight operations of the customer into consideration using the discrete event simulation. The simulation model was run over a set of systematically and exhaustively created combinations of different types of services and products. This has helped in selecting the most favourable combinations services and products, which can lead to the win-win situation for both the airlines and the MRO service providers.
Open Access
The design and development of the miniaturised active thermography for in-situ inspection of industrial components.
(Cranfield University, 2021-06) Du, Weixiang; Zhao, Yifan; Addepalli, Pavan
Nondestructive testing (NDT) is a common and reliable method for the detection of surface and subsurface defects. However, due to the increasing integration and complexity of industrial components and systems, the problem of mismatching of size and volume between the existing inspection unit and the targeted object has limited the applicability of NDT techniques. Especially for geometrically intricate systems, the deployment of NDT devices for in-situ inspection has become a major challenge. Addressing the challenge of inaccessibility and inapplicability, this research proposes a miniaturised active thermography (MAT) system, featured with a small-size and low-cost thermal sensor, and a portable optical heat excitation source. A novel spatial resolution enhancement for a thermogram (SRE4T) system, which includes an infrared (IR) sensor, an XY movement stage and a super-resolution image enhancement method, is also proposed to address the low spatial resolution of the miniaturised sensor without upgrading the sensor. Moreover, dedicated data analysis approaches to evaluate defects are proposed considering the degraded signal quality. Compared with existing non-miniaturised inspection systems, the proposed system is evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively by testing samples with different materials, structures, and a variety of defects. An accessibility test is designed and conducted to evaluate the proposed system’s performance to access geometrically intricate space. The results show that the proposed system can work effectively for the degradation assessment of composite laminates, and also has enhanced accessibility and applicability of deployment for geometrically intricate systems and narrow space targets. It is observed that the data quality for composite materials seems to be more reliable and quantifiable than metal due to the relatively low sample rate of the sensor and the high thermal conductivity of the metal component. The SRE4T system can significantly improve the spatial resolution of miniaturised sensors, although it has not been used for active thermography at the present stage. The current miniaturised IR cameras feature low spatial resolution and low Signal-to-Noise Ratio, which leads to the poor performance of most of the current data analysis methods on these sensors. We propose an effective analytics framework including data processing, image processing and feature extraction to reduce the influence of noise and enhance the detectability of damage.
Open Access
Develop a framework to improve lean implementation by leveraging organizational culture within small and medium manufacturing sector: the case of Saudi Arabia.
(2018-07) Alkhoraif, Abdullah Abdulaziz Ali; McLaughlin, Patrick
Implementing Lean into manufacturing small and medium enterprises faces difficulties, whereas it is more likely to be implemented successfully in larger companies, which then gain the advantages of Lean systems (Karim et al., 2011, Pakdil and Leonard, 2015). In addition, Organizational culture is one of the most important factors to focus on to facilitate the implementation of Lean within Saudi Arabian manufacturing (Karim and Arif‐Uz‐Zaman, 2013). Thus, more research that focuses on Lean implementation in SMEs are needed. This article focuses on contributing to develop a framework to improve Lean Implementation into small and medium enterprise manufacturing organisations in Saudi Arabia by leveraging aspects of Organizational Culture. Qualitative research is confirmed to be useful for uncovering such insider views, (Corbin and Strauss, 1990).The thesis will be based on qualitative and grounded theory inside action research with and an inductive approach. Action research tends to be used for prompting conscious change within a somewhat controlled environment, (Collis and Hussey, 2013). The data collection generally employed to study culture consist of; semi structured interviews, observation and focus groups. A framework by identifying suitable interventions to facilitate lean culture. a series of interventions developed with participants. these interventions permitted a framework for SMEs to be developed. A plan of linked interventions designed to develop aspects of lean culture forms the output of phase three. The planned interventions for SMEs are should take place together as a series of interlinked interventions. The interventions come from two sources literature review and data gathering. The contributions of this study are threefold: First, there has been no previous framework of Lean implementation in SMEs manufacturing sector. In addition, It also contributes to knowledge about the failure of lean implementation. Concerning aspects of organizational culture that facilitate lean implementation. This knowledge is transdisciplinary and adds to the domains of lean implementation, organizational culture and lean culture Finally, it supports the academic society with scheme for proposal future research.
Open Access
Developing a framework for employee engagement in large organisations in the Arabic Gulf Region by leveraging national culture.
(2018-04) Alfaifi, Abdulrahman; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed; McLaughlin, Patrick
The aim of this study is to develop and validate a framework for large organisations in the Arab Gulf Region, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to improve employee engagement and thus improve business performance. This research is completed in three phases. First, a detailed literature review summarises what is known about employee engagement and national culture in the GCC region. Second, an industrial field study then asks experienced leaders in the region to comment on the key enablers and inhibitors of employee engagement to better understand the region-specific factors affecting employee engagement, and their relationship to local culture. The results of the industrial field study suggest a number of changes are required to customise the employee engagement literature beyond the extant literature to meet the needs of employees in the GCC region, including actions such as engaging leaders developing a personal relationship with their employees. These changes are brought together to create a revised framework for employee engagement in large organisations in the GCC. In the third phase of the research, these results are tested in two validation studies. The first is a survey with a large sample of employees in the region confirming that these revised enablers of employee engagement predict feelings of employee engagement, and perceptions of performance. The second is an industrial field experiment in which a treatment group reported feeling greater levels of engagement after changes were implemented by a company. This research finds support for a framework of employee engagement that is both consistent with existing literature confirming the importance of key enablers such as providing opportunities for employees to learn and grow, but also additions to the literature with more region-specific ideas such as accommodating Islamic practicalities. This research contributes to the literature on employee engagement in documenting differences in different regions, specifically in this case the GCC region. This is also the first study to link specific aspects of national culture (e.g., power distance) to employee engagement, as well as to specify the distinctions between the enablers, behaviours, and feelings of employee engagement.
Open Access
Developing a framework of leadership behaviours to facilitate the effective use of lean six sigma in manufacturing: the case of Jordan.
(Cranfield University, 2022-03) Alnadi, Mohammad; McLaughlin, Patrick; Fan, Ip-Shing
This study aims to explore the leadership behaviours that facilitate the effective use of Lean Six Sigma, whereby organisations and leaders can realise the required behaviours to use the Lean Six Sigma successfully. Leadership is identified as one of the vital factors for the successful implementation of Lean Six Sigma. Thus, this research studies leadership from a behavioural lens. It would be helpful for organisations to get the expected benefits of Lean Six Sigma. An interpretive research philosophy is adopted; reality is constructed through social interaction in which people construct shared meanings and reality. A grounded theory methodology was used to collect and analyse the qualitative data. From that, identifying the required leadership behaviours was based and grounded on the themes that emerged from the data analysis. Twenty-seven interviews were conducted and, through analysing these interviews, thirty-six aspects of leadership behaviours emerged. The researcher made a constant comparison to let the aspects emerge during data analysis. These aspects were given to the participants in the focus group workshop to group them into core categories (themes). Then, ideal position descriptions for each theme were developed to describe what each theme looked like in the most effective and established organisations. The researcher adopted and relied on three sources to identify the possible leadership behaviours to develop the proposed framework. These sources are a focus group workshop, interviews analysis, and the literature. The framework is a series of leadership behaviours that target specific themes. The framework was validated through experts’ judgment from industry. The experts’ feedback was this framework is comprehensive and covers all topics. They believe that adopting these behaviours can lead to achieving the desired goal, which enhances operations efficiency. This research has contributed to facilitating the effective use of Lean Six Sigma by identifying the leadership behaviours required for the successful use of the Lean Six Sigma. Furthermore, it is novel in explaining how the leadership behaviours can support Lean Six Sigma; the themes’ descriptions explain how influence the use of Lean Six Sigma.
Open Access
Developing a framework to facilitate a culture for continuous improvement within higher education institutions: the case of Saudi Arabia.
(Cranfield University, 2019-08) Alotaibi, Mohammed; McLaughlin, Patrick; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed
Continuous Improvement in HEIs is becoming increasingly an important part of the HEIs strategic management. Major changes in the higher education sector over the last two decades have exerted pressure on the ability of HEI systems to sustain quality, meet increasing demands for accountability, and demonstrate their economic and social role. The drive for quality management and quality assurance has manifested in the increase in accreditation and quality audits required of HEIs by government bodies and external entities. Saudi Arabia higher education system is not exceptional in this regard. Therefore, this explanatory and interpretive study adopted a qualitative grounded theory approach, which, aims to establish how organisational culture can be leveraged to support continuous improvement in Saudi Arabia’s HEIs. It has used a number different data gathering instruments: including, face-to-face interviews, focus groups and survey. It also, identifies a number of themes that influence CI implementation in Saudi HEIs, and develop a framework of interventions that will help to leverage the organisation cultures of Saudi Arabia HEIs to facilitate continuous improvement. Recommendations for further study included more focused studies on the OC of Saudi based private universities and their current CI practices.
Open Access
Developing a framework to facilitate employee engagement culture: a case of Saudi Arabia Banks.
(2018-05) Alshehri, Mohammed; McLaughlin, Patrick; Al-Ashaab, Ahmed
Employee engagement has attracted widespread interest over the past twenty years from the practitioner network and researchers. It is claimed that organizations that focus on growing an engagement culture will increase their employee productiveness, fulfil their organizational objectives, and enhance their employee retention rate (Kim et al. 2013; Kuntz and Roberts 2014). However, the fundamental issues revolving surrounding the meaning and key antecedents of employee engagement nevertheless demand similar research interest (Saks and Gruman 2014). The Saudi banks are an important component of Saudi Arabia’s financial system. In light of the emerging high volume of business activities, Saudi banks are keen to inspire worker participation and employee engagement. This behaviour will allow banks to achieve sustainable business development. In response to these issues, the present thesis offers the possibility to advance the knowledge of organizational culture’s influence on employee engagement. The present thesis adopts a qualitative approach, and the method used is grounded theory. The data collection process adopts an issue-focused approach. Interviews were conducted with banks managers and their subordinates (male and female). The present study is based on two stages; the first stage is the pilot study, that consists of seven interviews, while the main study involves 28 interviews. The study was conducted in Saudi Arabia, with managers and their subordinates within seven banks. The outcomes of this study aim to produce valuable information on employee engagement factors based on the views of the employees of these banks. The key findings of the present thesis indicate that the factors that made the greatest contribution to employee engagement were: diversity management, organizational behaviour and practices, job characteristics and employee competent matching, motivation, reward and recognition, fairness in the workplace, competency and skills development, and employee psychological ownership. The outcomes of the present thesis contributes to the existing theory on employee engagement by providing empirical evidence regarding the engagement meaning construct and its distinctiveness from similar, alternative, well-established attitudinal constructs. This study provided understanding of characterises personal and organizational behaviour in Saudi Arabia, as distinctive features of the society. Overall, the study undertaken here found that Saudi society’s micro-dynamics are defined through sub-categories of the population marked by diversity and variation these are typically overlooked by academics exploring organizational culture in the country. The present study employed the concept of management research ‘relevance,’ which can only be proved through the effectiveness of the breadth and scope of the research. Traditionally, a research problem is set according to the gaps within the specialized literature. In the present research, a research problem is an issue which concerns the participants and seeks to manage these concerns, and so takes into account the research participants’ views. Furthermore, the present thesis offers a framework consisting of the themes that emerged from the analysis as well as the proposed interventions for maintaining an employee engagement culture. Furthermore, a discussion of the analysis’ limitations and recommendations for future researches will be presented, and a conclusion will be drawn.
Open Access
Development of a cost reduction methodology for start-up SMES developing a novel product.
(2017-07) Sarkandi, Mohammad Ali; Baguley, Paul; Tiwari, Ashutosh
This thesis is concerned with identifying cost engineering requirements of start-up SMEs in the manufacturing sector and developing a solution to address a number of their major requirements. The focus of the thesis is on cost reduction at the product development stage of a novel product. The aim of the thesis is to develop a cost reduction framework for SMEs developing a novel product in order to transfer necessary cost engineering knowledge to an SME in a structured way. A literature review has been completed to identify potential areas for cost reduction and build an understanding of SMEs’ characteristics in cost engineering requirements. The review confirmed the finding that SMEs lack cost engineering knowledge. Therefore, cost reduction best practices were identified through literature review and analysed for relevance for SMEs. Collaborating with a start-up SME developing a novel product helped to identify SMEs cost engineering requirements. By close observation and participation of the SME, areas lacking knowledge were identified. In addition, potential cost reduction opportunities were examined. Due to the nature of cost reduction activities, it was required to study day to day activities of the collaborating company and become familiarised with development, production and business plans for the product. The identification of the requirements and development of the AS IS model of the SME helped to build an understanding of characteristics and requirements of start-up SMEs. Based on these the cost reduction framework was developed. The framework includes best practice tools and methods which comply with start-up SMEs’ characteristics. Where a suitable method could not be identified, the method was developed in this research to address their requirements. The framework was implemented in the collaborating company and was validated by presenting the results to internal and external experts from industry and academia. Keywords: Start-up SME, Cost Engineering, Manufacturing, Novel product, production cost.